Medicare is in critical condition

In days, the U.S. Medicare program could go from serious condition to life support.

On Tuesday, the payment rates to physicians who provide care to Medicare patients will be cut by nearly 11 percent unless Congress passes a measure to stop the cut.

What does that mean for the millions of Americans 65 and older who rely on Medicare to pay for their health care?

That means Medicare goes on life support .ˆ  Many physicians across the country will have to pull the plug on their own Medicare patients.

Only the largest providers have enough volume to absorb such a pay cut and continue to see Medicare patients.

It means many private practice doctors won't be able to accept new Medicare patients and may not be able to take Medicare at all.

Seniors will be left searching for a doctor, and many don't have the means or the ability to travel far for their health care.

Families and businesses are already stretched to their limits by fuel, food and other cost of living expenses that are racing out of control.

Physician practices are no different. We can't afford to take a 10 percent cut in revenue and maintain the same level of service.

Our seniors require more physician care and the numbers of seniors joining the Medicare program is about to explode over the next 20 years.

We can't leave Medicare on life support.

The US House has passed HR 6331, which would stop any cuts for the next 18 months.

By Tuesday, the Senate must act to stop the Medicare payment cuts from taking effect. Then we must come together and reconstruct the entire Medicare payment process.

Medicare must change now to accurately compensate the physicians who provide the complex and compassionate care that our seniors need and deserve.

Steven D. Knight

President

Illinois Academy of Family Physicians

Harrisburg